Kerrang! to continue as digital only as new purchase Planet gets its first analogue platform
Bauer Media has axed the Kerrang! radio station from its FM slot in the West Midlands, switching the frequency to its newly-bought rock music rival, Planet Rock.
It is the first analogue platform for Planet Rock, bought by Bauer for between £1m and £2m from Malcolm Bluemel after a protracted sales process earlier this year.
It confirms speculation that Bauer would replace Kerrang! with Planet Rock, but the magazine spin-off station will continue as a digital-only proposition, Bauer said.
Kerrang! will be aimed at a 15-24 year old audience, younger than the listenership to Planet Rock.
Another Bauer rock magazine, Mojo, will have a new flagship show on Planet Rock called Mojo Rocks.
Steve Parkinson, managing director, Bauer Radio London, said: "Each brand has massive potential to grow and cross-promote through its own particular passion for the genre of rock music.
"We believe listeners will be excited about the enhancements we have planned for these much-loved brands."
Bauer said Kerrang! was also gearing up for a "refresh of its digital footprint".
The changes have taken place with immediate effect and come ahead of the launch of a new rock station, Team Rock, from a company headed by former GMG Radio chief executive, John Myers.
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Bauer Media has axed the Kerrang! radio station from its FM slot in the West Midlands, switching the frequency to its newly-bought rock music rival, Planet Rock.
It is the first analogue platform for Planet Rock, bought by Bauer for between £1m and £2m from Malcolm Bluemel after a protracted sales process earlier this year.
It confirms speculation that Bauer would replace Kerrang! with Planet Rock, but the magazine spin-off station will continue as a digital-only proposition, Bauer said.
Kerrang! will be aimed at a 15-24 year old audience, younger than the listenership to Planet Rock.
Another Bauer rock magazine, Mojo, will have a new flagship show on Planet Rock called Mojo Rocks.
Steve Parkinson, managing director, Bauer Radio London, said: "Each brand has massive potential to grow and cross-promote through its own particular passion for the genre of rock music.
"We believe listeners will be excited about the enhancements we have planned for these much-loved brands."
Bauer said Kerrang! was also gearing up for a "refresh of its digital footprint".
The changes have taken place with immediate effect and come ahead of the launch of a new rock station, Team Rock, from a company headed by former GMG Radio chief executive, John Myers.
• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email media@guardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".
• To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook Reported by guardian.co.uk 16 hours ago.